The Lakewood school staff took on the township's Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 71 for a basketball game to raise funds for Sandy victims. / Photo courtesy of Lakewood School District

Written by

Margaret F. Bonafide

@mfbonafide

LAKEWOOD — A spirited turnout for a good cause left the Lakewood Piners with bragging rights after they “stomped” the township's Policemen’s Benevolent Association in a basketball fundraiser Friday night to help victims who suffered losses from superstorm Sandy.

The game, held at the Lakewood High School gymnasium, had been scheduled for the beginning of November but was postponed due to the storm.

“Of course we beat them,” Superintendent Laura Winters said. “We stomped them. And we had no practices. They practiced for eight months.”

“We had some egg on our faces because we lost,” said Lakewood Police Officer Lynn Miller who said despite the loss, it was the most fun the PBA has had in a very long time.

Miller said the PBA practiced occasionally and used retired legendary Lakewood High School basketball coach Pot Richardson to help them with their game, although to no avail.

Miller and PBA president Gary Przewoznik organized the event with Principal Ebony Rivera of the Ella G. Clarke Elementary School.

The entry fee for the event was $1 or a canned food item.

Miller said they raised more than $1,000 although the final tally is yet to come. The 50/50 raffle payout was about $475, and the winner donated the money back to the cause.

That money combined with the entry fee will help a lot of people, Miller said.

The loss was bittersweet, as most of the police department attended the Lakewood schools at one time or another, Miller said.

“It was a friendly game and an awesome night,” Winters said. “Probably the biggest turnout that I have seen in many, many years in the community. At the same time, the students learned about giving back to the community to those less fortunate.”

Each principal has been tasked with creating a community event that will bring the students and public together for a good cause. It is likely that a softball game will be held in the spring, she said.